I won’t influence Special Prosecutor – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has said the Office of the Special Prosecutor will not be used as a vehicle to witch-hunt his political opponents.

According to him, the occupant of the Office will be independent of the Executive insisting there are enough checks and balances within the Act that established the Office to ensure it’s above manipulation.

The setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor was one of the key campaign promises made by President Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of his election victory in 2016 and it is aimed at tackling corruption.

When operational, the Special Prosecutor’s office will be independent of the Executive, which observers believe will allow it to adequately deal with corruption-related issues which have plagued past governments.

The office of the Special Prosecutor will have the mandate to investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption under the Public Procurement Act 203 Act 63 and other corruption-related offenses implicating public officers, political office holders and their accomplices in the public sector.

The office of the Special Prosecutor Act was recently passed by parliament.

Speaking at a Forum at Cambridge University in London, President Akufo-Addo said the OSP will improve accountability in the governance set-up, no matter the party in government.

He said his administration will not influence the operations of that office, adding the occupant will be somebody: ” who’ll be independent of the executive, will not have to take instructions from the Attorney General, not have to be taking instructions from the President, and will decide for himself who to prosecute and not to prosecute.”

“I’m hoping that we can find a person of stature, independence of my spirit, good sound knowledge of the law to fill that office and then we’ll just make the issues of enforcement of the rules and regulations to that person.